MIGRAIN: Narrative

1) Give an example from film or television that uses Todorov's narrative structure of equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium. 

Wallace and Gromit is an example of Todorov's narrative structure as a problem is caused, rabbits are eating the vegetables before a competition, breaking the equilibrium and harmony. Then they try restore it in a multitude of ways such as capturing the rabbits and brainwashing them to solve the problem, but they complicate the problem as they have too many captured rabbits in their house and Wallace's mind control turns on him and makes him man-rabbit. New equilibrium is reached as Gromit defeats Wallace

2) Complete the activity on page 1 of the Factsheet: find a clip on YouTube of the opening of a new TV drama series (season 1, episode 1). Embed the clip in your blog and write an analysis of the narrative markers that help establish setting, character and plot.

Temporal marker- It's happening early morning as there is a clear shot of a the sunrise in view.
Geographical marker-The series is set in at a hospital as there are sounds of police sirens, the characters have doctor scrubs, stethoscopes and identification badges.
Historical marker-The time periods it's set in is the 21st century as the setting and clothing are modern, there are sounds of cars.
Character marker-They're doctors because of their costumes.
Generic marker-Its a medical drama due to the profession of the characters and the intensity of the opening scene.

3) Provide three different examples from film or television of characters that fit Propp's hero character role.
Superman, Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter.

4) Give an example of a binary opposition.
Anakin Skywalker vs Luke skywalker, Harry Potter vs Voldemort and Superman vs Zod-el.

5) What example is provided in the Factsheet for the way narratives can emphasise dominant ideologies and values?
When a policemen catches the antagonist, it reinforces the values of law and order.

6) Why do enigma and action codes (Barthes) offer gratifications for audiences?
They create suspense as they hold some information back from the audience and it builds anticipation.

7) Write a one-sentence summary of the four different types of TV narrative:
  • Episodic narrative (the series)-The narrative is resolved by the end of each episode.
  • Overarching narrative (the serial)-A conventional narrative arch is utilised when a resolution occurs at the end of a series.
  • Mixed narrative-Media texts that utilise both episodic and overarching narratives.
  • Multi-strand overlapping narrative (soap narrative)-A continuous narrative that follows one theme or group of people at the same time and may not have a clear resolution.
8) How does the Factsheet suggest adverts use narrative?  
Problems and resolutions in an ads narratives is crucial, they're manufactured problems and the resolution draws the audience in to purchase said product.

A/A* extension task

Use our brilliant Media Magazine archive to read Narratology: Todorov, Propp and Freytag from MM70 (page 24). This applies some of our narrative theories (and one new one) to Star Wars, Avengers and more. Which of these theories do you find most useful when applying to media texts? Why? 

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